That cool Tony Awards moment when Jay-Z hooked up with Alicia Keys? Turns out it wasn’t live

NEW YORK — Jay-Z’s electrifying reunion with Alicia’s keys in what appeared to be a live duet of “Empire State of Mind” on Tony Awards it was actually pre-recorded, said a program official who was not authorized to speak publicly to The Associated Press.

The rapper’s appearance in support of Keys’ musical “Hell’s Kitchen” led to a surge of excitement within the arena, but now it appears it was a Hollywood stunt, undermining the Broadway communities’ full embrace of live singing and dancing.

A representative for Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and a producer for White Cherry Entertainment did not return messages seeking clarification about what happened Sunday night. A senior broadcast aide also did not return requests for comment Monday.

“Hell’s Kitchen,” which won two awards Sunday night — for star Maleah Joi Moon and Kécia Lewis, who plays her mentor – is loosely based on Keys’ years growing up in that Manhattan neighborhood and contains old hits and new songs from the singer-songwriter. Keys is a producer but does not appear on the show. The show ends with a rousing edit of “Empire State of Mind.”

Each nominee for best new musical at the Tony Awards gets a performance spot and “Hell’s Kitchen” was up first, with the cast performing a medley of songs – including their hit “Fallin’” – from the show.

Then Keys appeared at the piano on stage at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center and began singing her and Jay-Z’s 2009 hit. She soon got up and walked down the stage steps and into the orchestra seating section and out the side of the auditorium – “I had to do something crazy. It’s my hometown,” she explained to the crowd – moments later, apparently joining the rapper on some of the venue’s marble steps to applause. “Brooklyn, New York at the Tonys tonight!” Jay-Z signed in the end.

The public and the media were inside the auditorium and no photos of the two artists live appeared. A version of the two finishing the song was broadcast to the TV audience and to a video screen inside the venue. Keys wore the same outfit she wore on stage. Jay-Z was never seen entering the packed auditorium.

Although some parts of the Tony telecast are pre-recorded – technical awards given out before the show, some publicity packages, and often segments of the most nominated plays – the strong feeling is that the musical performances are what the audience will see when they come. to Broadway. , no tricks.

New York Magazine first reported that the segment was pre-recorded.

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Mark Kennedy is in